Farmers in seven upazilas of the district are getting more interested in cultivation of green pea in the fallow land, considering it as a bonus crop between Aman and Boro seasons.

Many farmers in different upazilas have changed their luck by cultivating green pea, locally known as ‘motorshuti,’ on their fallow land as the vegetable requiring low production cost brings good profit.

Only eight to 10 years ago, after harvesting Aman paddy, farmers used to keep their lands idle till the Boro cultivation starts, Natore Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer Mehedul Islam said.

Green pea farming also increases the fertility of the land as the vegetable is a pulse crop, he added.

Farmer Alam Hossain of Chougachhi village in Sadar upazila said he cultivated green pea on eight bighas of land this year spending Tk 35,000.

He has already earned Tk 1.5 lakh by selling his produces, said Alam, who struggled to maintain his family only five years ago, but now lives a solvent life.

Abul Kalam of Chandrakala village in the upazila said although green peas is a short time crop (three months duration) but it benefits them a lot.

“This year I have earned Tk 20,000 by selling pea from each bigha land,’’ Kalam said.

Farmer Belal Hossain of the same village said farmers usually sows pea seeds in between October and November and harvest their produce in January and February

Besides, no plough is required to cultivate pea in paddy fields, Belal added.

Housewife Jaheda Begum of Bangabaria village said cultivation of pea brings an opportunity for many women like her as they can earn Tk 100 to Tk 200 every day by plucking pea during this time of the year. 

Trader Afaz Uddin said he buys pea from different areas of Natore and sell those at different markets across the country including Dhaka and Narayanganj.

Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Natore Subrata Kumar Saha said green pea was cultivated on 1,195 hectares of land in the district this season while it was only 715 hectares last season.